With Valentines Day (and the '100th Day of School') just around the corner, I thought I’d post this heart-themed version of my 'Mixing 100 Colors’ lesson! Mixing the colors and then painting hearts requires a little longer attention span, so I’ve found that 4th grade and up does best with this version. But younger students can also do this if they just work a little larger and … [Read more...]
6 Tips for Watercolor Success with Kids
Watercolor is a great medium for kids! It's affordable, mixes well, cleans up quickly, and (usually) doesn't stain clothing. Here are six tips to help you and your younger students find success when learning to work with this classic medium: Choose a good quality student paint. Good quality doesn't have to mean expensive! Before buying a class set of any art … [Read more...]
Light Has Come!
Religious paintings were a favorite subject of the Old Masters (trained European painters who worked between the mid 1400's to the early 1800's). In paintings from this time period, Jesus was often depicted with a glowing light that would radiate out from him. This example of the Nativity (or birth) of Christ by Dutch artist Gerard Van Honthorst (1622) is a great example of … [Read more...]
Day of the Dead – Ofrenda Painting
The popular Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead (or Dia de Los Muertos), gives us many opportunities for colorful art lessons combined with learning about another culture! True confession time.... when I moved from a small town in upstate New York to go to college in California, I had no idea what Day of the Dead was.... I had never even heard of it. I (wrongly!) assumed it was … [Read more...]
Feed Your Creative Soul – with a Sketchbook
Most art teachers I know struggle to find time for pursuing their own artwork.... so if that's you, you're not alone! Summertime provides a great opportunity for teachers to do things they otherwise set aside during the school year. But if we're trying to teach our students how important art is, should we really be putting off our own art until summer? (I'm speaking to myself … [Read more...]
Volunteering as an Art Educator
Opportunities abound for volunteering as an Art Educator! If you've got a little extra free time this summer, why not take advantage of this chance to share your expertise with others in your community? This summer, I'm teaching Art classes for the elderly residents at a local retirement home.... a completely new experience for me! With new experiences come new challenges, … [Read more...]
Create Your Own Color Wheel
Why purchase pre-mixed paint colors when students can learn to mix their own colors for more variety and more interesting results? Making a color wheel teaches students how to mix the colors they want while learning the basics of color theory! For a printable 7 page pdf of this project (including my color wheel template), please visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store! You will … [Read more...]
366 Hearts
If you're looking for ideas for Valentine's Day, this story may give you the inspiration you're looking for! When I first discovered the 366 Hearts project, I stayed up half the night with inspiration for all the new ideas I wanted to try. Talented U.K. artist, Hazel McNab, challenged herself to create a new heart every day from Valentine's Day 2012 until Valentine's Day … [Read more...]
Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos Projects
Day of the Dead (or Dia de los Muertos) is right around the corner! Don't miss the opportunity to share this important cultural tradition with your students. Often misunderstood, this popular Mexican holiday honors ancestors and loved ones who have died, and is celebrated each year on November 1st & 2nd. This family-centered holiday celebrates the cycle of … [Read more...]
Kindergarten Rorschach Prints
This is one of my favorite Kindergarten lessons, based on the famous Rorschach Ink Blot Test. The process of making these prints seems almost magical to a five year old who's doing this for the first time. It combines colorful paint with the element of surprise and plenty of imagination... what's not to love about that?! I begin by reading the book, It Looked Like … [Read more...]
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